Chapter 16

EPILOGUE Bash was making his way through the forest. His destination: the Shiwanashi Forest in elf country. The forest was thick and overgrown, but Bash picked his way through, sure-footed as ever. Relying on the fairy to navigate, Bash simply placed one foot in front of the other in pursuit of his destination. “Shiwanashi Forest is pretty close! We’ll be there in no time.” “Right!” Bash and Zell, reunited. Both had made names for themselves in the war. As a pair, they went together well. During the war, they had survived countless battles by working together. While there had been some crushing defeats, they had always made it through. So even though Bash’s first attempt at wife hunting had ended in failure, they were confident the second time would go better. But even if they failed again, there would be another chance after that. After all, things had always been that way. Their destination, the Shiwanashi Forest. Both believed Bash would find a bride there, and then their journey could come to an end. They still had no idea. No idea how long a journey this would really turn out to be. Around the same time… An elf made an appearance at a human party. A glamorous party for the human aristocracy. Everywhere you looked, gorgeously dressed ladies and gentlemen were engaged in pleasant conversation. A man and a woman were laughing together. During the war, the man had barely ever cracked a smile. The woman had bared her teeth and bellowed war cries on the battlefield. Now they chuckled loudly. In the midst of the party, a certain elf was deep in conversation with the son of a nobleman. They were discussing the future of the human race. “Hmm. I believe that this era will place a higher value than ever before on commerce and education, as well as the arts.” “I see… Well, I’d like to establish schools all over the human country, but all we have are ex-soldiers and knights. We lack cultured individuals who would make for good teachers…” “And those who are cultured are already in pursuit of their own career interests.” “Right. Actually, I’m working to consult with them on creating materials, some sort of handbook to be used in training up a new generation of teachers. I was hoping we might be able to get the elf input on that.” “A primer for educators! Actually, we elves were thinking of something similar. It is so like humans to seek to preserve knowledge in tangible form, isn’t it? Ah, but I meant no offense! How about meeting up this evening to discuss the future of education in further detail?” “Ha-ha-ha. I appreciate your proposal, but won’t people get the wrong idea if a man and a woman meet after hours, alone?” “What?! I mean… Heh… Surely, Lord Merz, the Battering Ram, isn’t concerned about idle gossip?” “Oh, I am concerned.” “You… You are?” “Don’t test me, please. We’re not all out to make enemies of every elf alive, you know.” “Ah, of course, of course! Ha-ha, yes, yes, of course! Ha-ha!” The elf laughed as well. But her laugh was somewhat sardonic, not at all like the innocent laughter of the guests around her. She still had no idea. No idea that another would soon come to share her objective. A Hero of the orc race. A young female dwarf was sharpening a sword in a workshop somewhere. The workshop was filled with the scraping sound of the sword being worked upon. After working on the sword for a few moments more, she plunged it carefully into the bucket she had beside her. As the sword sank into the red water that filled the bucket, something like black dust rose to the water’s surface. She withdrew the blade from the water and admired it. “…Good!” “What’s good?” “…!” The girl whirled around to see another female dwarf standing there. “I thought I told you never to come into my workshop uninvited.” “It’s your fault. You should have locked the door. What are you working on? What’s with that bright-red water? Did you put paint in it or something?” “My work is secret. I can’t have people stealing my techniques.” “Pah! You assume your techniques are even worth stealing. If you’ve got the time to mess about with silly things like that, then you could spend a few minutes more sharpening your creations properly!” “Tch! You’re always acting like such a supercilious snob! Is that really what you came in here to say?” The intruder sighed as the young dwarf’s rage bubbled over. “I’d rather not have to say it at all. But who could stay silent, seeing such shoddy work?” “How dare you mock me! Don’t expect any sympathy when I see you crying at the next God of War Festival!” “Ha, the festival? That’s way beyond your pathetic abilities!” With that final snooty remark, the other woman stormed out of the workshop. The young girl left behind gnashed her teeth for a moment, gazing at her sword.